Things That Go Bump In The Night 3
Disclaimer : The story's mine, the characters, town, dust particles, etc..etc. are not. Just borrowing.
Note : I'm repeating the last line from Chapter 2 as a ( sort of ) reminder.
Chapter 3 : Who's That Girl
The woman drew a breath to speak, but Tara stepped out from behind one of the shelves and from behind Buffy, " Buffy, it's ok. I know her. That's my cousin, Devon MaClay. "
Buffy cast a glance at Tara. She was beaming. Buffy was taken aback for a moment, as she'd never seen a smile of that size take residence on Tara's face when it came to her family. Though her friend appeared happy, she still felt protective towards her.
" Cousin, " Buffy asked aloud, mirroring everyon'e confusion, " I thought your family was finished with bothering you. "
Devon snorted, then smirked, looking directly at Tara and cracked, " I take it they met our big, happy family. "
" Just my Dad, Donny, and Beth. "
Devon's eyes flashed briefly, " Bethany was here ? "
Tara smiled sympathetically, " Yes. "
Devon rolled her eyes, then grinned at Tara, changing the subject, " Well, look at you. Looking good, Tara. "
Tara glided over to Devon and enfolded her in a hug. Willow stepped forward subconciously, then stopped herself. She had been staring at Devon intently since she'd come in, trying to place where she'd seen her face before, when it dawned on her.
" You're the ' friend, ' " she exclaimed as recognition washed over her.
At this, everyone bandied their attention back and forth between Willow and the cousins. Tara and Devon had broken apart and were also staring at the red head. Devon cocked her head to the side, also remembering her.
" You're the witch, " she half smiled.
" Willow, " Tara began, " this is the woman you saw in the Quad ? "
" Yes. "
" Devon, this is Willow, my girlfriend. "
Devon studied Tara's beaming face, then gazed at Willow. She chuckled in wonder, " Small world. "
" And getting smaller, " Xander added.
Everyone seemed to be scrutinizing Devon in curiousity. She matched the loose description Willow had given earlier, but in the well lit room, they could see more. Her hair was richer, like golden brown honey, streaked with blonde. Her eyes were clear and violet in color. There didn't seem to be an overt family resemblance to Tara. Infact, none really at all. It seemed to be the subtle things that connected them. A few expressions, some mannerisms. Light, but there, nonetheless.
" Sorry, " Tara said breaking the staring contest between everyone, " Devon, these are my friends. That's Buffy and her sister, Dawn. "
Buffy nodded in greeting, and Dawn threw a friendly wave her way. Devon smiled the young girl, and nodded back to Buffy.
" This is Xander and his girlfriend, Anya, and that is Mr. Giles. He owns the shop. And of course, " she gestured to Willow, a warm look filling her eyes, " Willow, my girlfriend. And everyone, this is Devon. "
Willow went to Devon and shook her hand, " I never got to thank you properly for helping me in the Quad. So, thanks. "
Devon blushed and shrugged, " It was nothing. You helped me out too, so I owe you one. "
" So, " Giles added, " now that we know Willow's story, perhaps you can fill in some of the blanks. "
" You were right about him, " she muttered, casting a sidelong glance at Tara, " he cuts right to the chase. "
Tara squelched the urge to snort out a giggle.
Buffy shrugged, " Yea, but he grows on you. Besides, I'm a little curious myself. "
" I'll be willing to tell you anything in the world, " her lips twitched, " as long as I can do it sitting down. My feet are killing me. "
They all sat around the research table together in a circle, with an added chair for Devon. Giles had sent Xander and Anya for pizza, and everyone munched when they'd returned as Devon told her side of the story.
" I'm in town for two reasons, really. I'm here to see Tara, and of course, I have to catch that Gramorkra demon. "
" In the Quad you said it was your job, " Willow recalled, " what did you mean by that ? "
Devon and Tara shared a look before she answered, " I'm sort of a cop where I come from. "
" A sort of cop that happens to chase demons, " Buffy asked, " and where's home ? "
Devon stared at Buffy intently for a brief moment. She knew that she was the Slayer, and knew that Buffy probably didn't trust her very much at this point. Devon couldn't blame her. Firstly, she was strolling along on Buffy's territory, and secondly, she was a member of a family that none of them cared for or trusted, save Tara.
" I've been living in Cleveland, " she finally answered, keeping her tone jovial, " and I'm a member of a special police force. We go after vampires and demons. We call ourselves the spook squad. The rest of the police don't really acknowledge us too much because then they would have to admit that there ' are ' actually demons and vampires. "
" We know how that goes. A demon could explode all over the steps of city hall and everyone would make up some lame story about it being gang related. "
Devon snorted sarcastically, nodding in agreement at Buffy, " They do that here, too ? "
" Always. "
" So, " Buffy continued, " you came out for Tara ; but your job follwed you out here ? "
" More like the other way around. "
" What does this demon want, " Giles asked.
" Fear. Gramorkras feed off fear, and humans are also their prime source of nuroushment. There is another thing about this Grmaorkra, though. Seems he wanted to be near the Hellmouth here because he thinks something big is going to happen soon. Not that I know what that's all about, " she shrugged.
Buffy and Giles shared a dark look before looking away from each other. Giles furrowed his brows. He knew about the spook squad in Cleveland, but he didn't let the others know that, or why there was a need for such a squad.
" Pardon me for asking, " he began, " but aren't you a bit young to be on the police force ? "
Devon's head swiveled over to him, and she smiled, " I joined the police academy a little bit after graduating high school. I'm a year older than Tara. I was just a rookie when I got recruited by my current boss. I kept running into demons on my beat and constantly had to report to him, so finally, he just recruited me. I guess I'm still considered a rookie. "
" You wouldn't happen to work for Sayudi Zamuda , would you, " he asked.
She raised her eyebrows, curiousity peaked, " Yes, I do. "
Giles nodded, but said no more.
To be continued........
Disclaimer : The story's mine, the characters, town, dust particles, etc..etc. are not. Just borrowing.
Note : I'm repeating the last line from Chapter 2 as a ( sort of ) reminder.
Chapter 3 : Who's That Girl
The woman drew a breath to speak, but Tara stepped out from behind one of the shelves and from behind Buffy, " Buffy, it's ok. I know her. That's my cousin, Devon MaClay. "
Buffy cast a glance at Tara. She was beaming. Buffy was taken aback for a moment, as she'd never seen a smile of that size take residence on Tara's face when it came to her family. Though her friend appeared happy, she still felt protective towards her.
" Cousin, " Buffy asked aloud, mirroring everyon'e confusion, " I thought your family was finished with bothering you. "
Devon snorted, then smirked, looking directly at Tara and cracked, " I take it they met our big, happy family. "
" Just my Dad, Donny, and Beth. "
Devon's eyes flashed briefly, " Bethany was here ? "
Tara smiled sympathetically, " Yes. "
Devon rolled her eyes, then grinned at Tara, changing the subject, " Well, look at you. Looking good, Tara. "
Tara glided over to Devon and enfolded her in a hug. Willow stepped forward subconciously, then stopped herself. She had been staring at Devon intently since she'd come in, trying to place where she'd seen her face before, when it dawned on her.
" You're the ' friend, ' " she exclaimed as recognition washed over her.
At this, everyone bandied their attention back and forth between Willow and the cousins. Tara and Devon had broken apart and were also staring at the red head. Devon cocked her head to the side, also remembering her.
" You're the witch, " she half smiled.
" Willow, " Tara began, " this is the woman you saw in the Quad ? "
" Yes. "
" Devon, this is Willow, my girlfriend. "
Devon studied Tara's beaming face, then gazed at Willow. She chuckled in wonder, " Small world. "
" And getting smaller, " Xander added.
Everyone seemed to be scrutinizing Devon in curiousity. She matched the loose description Willow had given earlier, but in the well lit room, they could see more. Her hair was richer, like golden brown honey, streaked with blonde. Her eyes were clear and violet in color. There didn't seem to be an overt family resemblance to Tara. Infact, none really at all. It seemed to be the subtle things that connected them. A few expressions, some mannerisms. Light, but there, nonetheless.
" Sorry, " Tara said breaking the staring contest between everyone, " Devon, these are my friends. That's Buffy and her sister, Dawn. "
Buffy nodded in greeting, and Dawn threw a friendly wave her way. Devon smiled the young girl, and nodded back to Buffy.
" This is Xander and his girlfriend, Anya, and that is Mr. Giles. He owns the shop. And of course, " she gestured to Willow, a warm look filling her eyes, " Willow, my girlfriend. And everyone, this is Devon. "
Willow went to Devon and shook her hand, " I never got to thank you properly for helping me in the Quad. So, thanks. "
Devon blushed and shrugged, " It was nothing. You helped me out too, so I owe you one. "
" So, " Giles added, " now that we know Willow's story, perhaps you can fill in some of the blanks. "
" You were right about him, " she muttered, casting a sidelong glance at Tara, " he cuts right to the chase. "
Tara squelched the urge to snort out a giggle.
Buffy shrugged, " Yea, but he grows on you. Besides, I'm a little curious myself. "
" I'll be willing to tell you anything in the world, " her lips twitched, " as long as I can do it sitting down. My feet are killing me. "
They all sat around the research table together in a circle, with an added chair for Devon. Giles had sent Xander and Anya for pizza, and everyone munched when they'd returned as Devon told her side of the story.
" I'm in town for two reasons, really. I'm here to see Tara, and of course, I have to catch that Gramorkra demon. "
" In the Quad you said it was your job, " Willow recalled, " what did you mean by that ? "
Devon and Tara shared a look before she answered, " I'm sort of a cop where I come from. "
" A sort of cop that happens to chase demons, " Buffy asked, " and where's home ? "
Devon stared at Buffy intently for a brief moment. She knew that she was the Slayer, and knew that Buffy probably didn't trust her very much at this point. Devon couldn't blame her. Firstly, she was strolling along on Buffy's territory, and secondly, she was a member of a family that none of them cared for or trusted, save Tara.
" I've been living in Cleveland, " she finally answered, keeping her tone jovial, " and I'm a member of a special police force. We go after vampires and demons. We call ourselves the spook squad. The rest of the police don't really acknowledge us too much because then they would have to admit that there ' are ' actually demons and vampires. "
" We know how that goes. A demon could explode all over the steps of city hall and everyone would make up some lame story about it being gang related. "
Devon snorted sarcastically, nodding in agreement at Buffy, " They do that here, too ? "
" Always. "
" So, " Buffy continued, " you came out for Tara ; but your job follwed you out here ? "
" More like the other way around. "
" What does this demon want, " Giles asked.
" Fear. Gramorkras feed off fear, and humans are also their prime source of nuroushment. There is another thing about this Grmaorkra, though. Seems he wanted to be near the Hellmouth here because he thinks something big is going to happen soon. Not that I know what that's all about, " she shrugged.
Buffy and Giles shared a dark look before looking away from each other. Giles furrowed his brows. He knew about the spook squad in Cleveland, but he didn't let the others know that, or why there was a need for such a squad.
" Pardon me for asking, " he began, " but aren't you a bit young to be on the police force ? "
Devon's head swiveled over to him, and she smiled, " I joined the police academy a little bit after graduating high school. I'm a year older than Tara. I was just a rookie when I got recruited by my current boss. I kept running into demons on my beat and constantly had to report to him, so finally, he just recruited me. I guess I'm still considered a rookie. "
" You wouldn't happen to work for Sayudi Zamuda , would you, " he asked.
She raised her eyebrows, curiousity peaked, " Yes, I do. "
Giles nodded, but said no more.
To be continued........